Travel Guide Chile: Rapa Nui

More famously known as Easter Island, this part of Chile is further away from land than any other island in the world. People come of course for the impressive ancient statues but it offers some of the best scuba diving in the world and the beautiful beaches as well. A visit to Rapa Nui is an unforgettable highlight to include on your trip to Chile.

Chilean territory since 1888, Rapa Nui is most famous for its almost 900 giant statues, named Moai. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and much of the island is protected as a national park. The Moai were carved between the 12th and 17th centuries with only the use of hand chisels, taking a 6 man team about an entire year to complete one. Though all the stone comes from one central quarry, the huge statues are found all over the island and with the largest one weighing 82 tons and measuring 32 feet, it’s still not clear how they exactly were transported to their final locations.

With the weather fairly even throughout the year, there’s no specific time that’s best to visit Rapa Nui during the best tours to Chile, though the months of April through June tend to have a bit more rain which can reduce visibility for divers.

Divers come to Easter Island not so much for the underwater life but for the almost unlimited visibility in its deep blue waters and the many arcs, ledges, caves and lava platforms. You can also encounter Moai underwater and the 24 Centigrade water temperature, makes for very comfortable diving.

Hanga Roa is the main town and capital of Easter Island and its little more than 3,000 inhabitants form about 90 percent of the entire population. The town also houses the only supermarket and pharmacy on the island plus most accommodations, so it’s more than likely that you will end up staying here during your visit to Easter Island.